Actions vs Words

It is a difficult time for the arts in education. In many districts they are under attack. Words about the importance of music, art and theater are wonderful, but actions show much more. 

I have never heard of a district that says the arts are not important, but I have seen many districts that show with their actions that they do not value the arts. At the end of the day (in most districts) specials provide prep time for classroom teachers. When prep time is cut, specials time is cut too.

I understand that districts are under immense pressure to balance their budgets while not receiving funds from their states. This is the perfect time to be honest and to admit that students will be missing out on valuable instruction that specials provide but due to budget concerns it is the only option.

At the end of the day, our actions will always speak louder than our words.  What message do your words send?  What message do your actions send?

Reflections on a Snowy Day

1.  "What is best for kids" is not a mantra. It is a way of life where we truly put kids first when we make all decisions.

2.  Be honest. We all have to make tough decisions and sometimes we have to make sacrifices. Don't sugar coat or only highlight the positives. Let all stake holders know the true ramifications of the decisions.

3.  Enjoy the moment. Life moves by too quickly. Enjoy the hugs,  cuddles, highs and lows. Great times won't last forever and either will the hard times.

4. Live by your principles. What do you stand for? What do you believe in? Live by these guiding principles regardless of how hard things get.

5. Don't apologize for working hard. We all get 24 hours in a day. What are you going to do with your time? Time is a valuable resource. Use it wisely.

6.  Take time to read and listen to books. Strive each day to learn something new and to grow as a person/parent/friend/professional/spouse.

7. You Matter and you are impacting lives. Even if you don't see it, people will remember you for years down the road. They will remember how you made them feel. How do you want to be remembered? Make sure you current lifestyle matches this goal.

8. You are not defined by your grades, test scores or athletic achievements.

9.  Learn to deal with mean people. The world is full of bullies and mean people. It is your choice how much they impact your life. Yes, this is easier said than done.

10. Enjoy Life! We live in a country far better off than much of the world (even with our many problems.) We have clean drinking water, access to public education, access to health care and many other perks. We live in a beautiful world. Enjoy the sunshine, the green grass, the birds chirping,  the falling snow and the many wonders of creation.

2014 in Review

This past year could be described using many different adjectives: exhausting, exciting, wonderful, joyful, sad, difficult and stressful to name a few.

I became a varsity head coach and I became a parent. I said good bye to my last grandparent (as someone who grew up knowing two of my great grandparents and three of my grandparents,  the fact that my children will not meet any of their great grandparents was a difficult pill to swallow) and I welcomed my first child into this world.

My view of the world has changed slightly in the six months since I have been a mom and I expect some views to change even more as I continue to experience life. Life will change you if you let it. Some of these changes are positive and some are negative.

I look forward to another year of joys, challenges, disappointments and opportunities. I made steps to improve myself as a teacher and a person and I look forward to another year to get even better.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Program 2014

Typically I hate themes, but I saw this idea in a Facebook Group and it became stuck in my head. This year I am going to do "A Night at the Movies" for my Elementary Christmas Program.  There are so many great choices for music so I am very excited for the program.

Kindergarten
All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth from Alvin and the Chipmunks

Jingle Bell Rock from Home Alone

Kindergarten & First Grade

Feliz Navidad from Feliz Navidad

First Grade Scarves- Dance of the sugar plum fairies from the Nutcracker
White Christmas (with unpitched percussion) from White Christmas

Second Grade
Do You Want To Build a Snowman? (with boomwhackers) from Frozen
Carol of the Bells (on Boomwhackers) from Home Alone
Somewhere in my memory from Home Alone

Third Grade Silent Night (chimes and singing) from White Christmas
Jingle Bells (chimes and singing) from White Christmas

Fourth Grade When Christmas Comes Around from Polar Express
Little Drummer Boy (on Recorder) from Little Drummer Boy
Buckets to Trepak from Nutcracker

Choir
Where are you Christmas? from How the Grinch Stole Chrismas

Thank You

This blog has been a wonderful journey. It has transformed a few times and has taken different paths (I presume it will transform even more in the future.) I write for me and for my well-being but it is wonderful to know that others read it; plus knowing others can see it helps me keep some of my ideas in check.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and to comment and share your ideas. I truly appreciate your time and I hope that this blog will continue to be a place to share ideas and thoughts and that you will consider it worthy of your time.

Thank you!

Lessons From Observation #1

Two weeks ago I had my first formal observation of the year. As a non tenured teacher (Illinois does not have tenure in the traditional sense but it impacts how often a teacher is observed). According to my district's evaluation tool, I was rated an excellent teacher. Some days I feel like I deserve this title and others (like today) I feel like anything but an excellent teacher.

Do you learn from your observations? I am a busy person and I hate feeling like my time is being wasted. I have decided to make myself learn from this experience (even though I want to feel like it is a waste of time.)

I was complimented for getting to my students level and correcting them individually. I realized I don't do this all of the time and I need to make more of an effort to jot take the "easy" way out.

I was complimented for being organized and using technology in a positive way. I know I am not always as organized as I could be and this was a reminder that I need to be.

Observations are a snap shot of me as a teacher. I need to remember this feelings and and use it when I relate to my students. A class, project or activity is only a snapshot of their achievement in my class. I need to make sure I do not let a small piece of data to define them.

Thank you for reading.

Are You Right?

Since my daughter was born four months ago, I admit I have had more thoughts about what would happen if something bad were to happen to her, my husband or myself. I think it is a normal cycle of me realizing I am now responsible for another person.

This morning I was surfing Facebook and one of the first articles I saw was that the police chief in my town (who is also related to one of my coworkers) passed away yesterday. It hit me particularly hard. I saw this man sitting across from the high school yesterday afternoon. You always hear life is too short, enjoy the time you have, babies grow up to fast and these are all true. The thing that really jumped out to me is Am I Right?

For me as a Christian,  am I right with God?

Am I right with my family? Have I truly forgiven those who have hurt me?

Am I right with my friends and those around me?

Do they know how much I care about them?

Life is too short, babies do grow up too fast and bad things happen to good people.

Spend time doing the things you know you should do now (for me that means praying and opening my Bible) so you can go to bed each day knowing you are at peace with those around you.

Thank you for reading.